Sometime during the middle of the afternoon—long after I’d run out of tears—I began to hear lots of movement in the hallways and throughout the castle. Whatever they were doing, the men seemed to be in a hurry. While my curiosity was killing me, I knew better than to leave Raudrich’s room. Marcus didn’t want to see me. I wasn’t particularly keen to see him either.

So, as the footsteps, hollering, and commotion continued, I knew I needed to find a way to occupy myself. Otherwise, I would lose my mind. First, I set out to light a fire, which to my everlasting surprise, I succeeded in doing. Second, I shamelessly rummaged around Raudrich’s room and opened every chest until I found what I was looking for—parchment, ink well, and a quill.

There was only one person I wanted to talk to. One person that could make me feel a little less alone and hated.

It took me a bit of time to get used to the ink and the rough way the tip of the quill scraped against the thickness of the paper, but I was eventually able to write something legible.

Morna,

I’m going to trust that your word was true and try throwing this note into the fire. If so, send me something, some way that I can speak to my sister. I miss her and I’m really in need of a talk with her–a real one. Not some cloaked version of you that you send to me in my dreams.

Laurel

Tearing the parchment just below my small note, I folded it up and tossed it into the fire. All it did was burn. Frustrated, I moved to the windowsill and looked down into the steep slope of forest that cascaded down the hill surrounding the castle. As I stared across the landscape, there was a slight swooshing sound behind me. I turned to see a folded note fly out of the flames, totally untouched by fire, and land gently on the writing desk where I’d just been sitting,

I hurried over to the table, gently touched the note’s edge to make certain it wasn’t warm and tore it open.

Laurel,

I know that neither of you seem to believe me, but I do only lie when it is absolutely necessary, lass. If I told you that you could reach me this way, I meant it. Walk over to Raudrich’s wardrobe and open the door. At the bottom you will find what you need, but for the love of God, lass, keep it hidden. It would never do for something so modern to be discovered in the time you’re in.

It seemed like too much to hope for, but I stood and ran over to the wardrobe and nearly tore the handle from the door in my haste to see if it could possibly be true.

It was.

Right at the bottom lay a phone. Beaming, I picked it up and ran back over to the parchment to respond.

I suppose this doesn’t actually need service to work, does it? Thank you.

It wasn’t a serious question. I knew, of course, that the phone would need no towers or battery to work.

Morna’s response was almost instantaneous.

Of course not. Laurel, this phone shall be the last gift I give you and the last time I’ll respond to anything you may write, for I know where your questions will lead, and I can’t help you with what must come next. History has cast the die over what shall happen with Machara and the men of this castle. In this case, it wouldn’t do for me to interfere. There are too many lives destined to take part in this story, too many things that need to fall into place.

I know you must think this very hypocritical of me, and perhaps it is. From reading my own story, you know that I’ve changed history more than once, but this time, history doesn’t need my meddling to work out well in the end. Remember that when it feels like your world is falling apart.

With love and hope, I leave you.

Morna

I stared at the note, reading it over and over again as I tried to process what she might mean. I had a sinking feeling that I already knew.

Despite her warning, I scribbled out another note and threw it into the flames.

Does this mean that I’m stuck here? What about my family? What about Marcus’ family? What about our lives back home?

I waited the rest of the day for her answer.

It never came.

And that in and of itself was answer enough.

I would never see Boston again.

---

At first Raudrich believed it wasn’t working. Perhaps, Marcus’ magic was still too new. Mayhap, they would have to teach him to wield his new powers before its strength was potent enough for the spell to bind him to The Eight.

But then, slowly, as their chanting continued, Marcus’ face distorted in pain as Machara’s screeches rose up from her cell beneath them. The room shook around them as the binds took hold.

Marcus was now one of The Eight.

It should’ve been a relief to all of them, but as Raudrich looked into the eyes of his brethren, he knew the same worry weighed heavily on all of them.

Until Calder was found and his true motive for leaving known, they were no safer today than they’d been the day before.